PRESS RELEASE: New Bill Will Hold Illegal Dumping Violators Accountable
Oakland, CA – Today, State Senator Jesse Arreguín (D-Oakland) announced the introduction of Senate Bill (SB) 1218, which requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to refuse to renew the registration of a vehicle if the registered owner or lessee has outstanding illegal dumping penalties. Senator Arreguín was joined by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, and other community leaders to announce the effort.
“For too long, illegal dumpers have treated fines as optional while our neighborhoods pay the price,” said Senator Jesse Arreguín. “SB 1218 ensures real accountability by tying unpaid dumping violations to vehicle registration. If you trash our communities, there will be consequences.”
Under current law, the DMV already denies vehicle registration renewals for delinquent parking tickets and similar fines. SB 1218 builds on this proven enforcement model by adding unpaid illegal dumping penalties to the list of violations that can trigger a registration hold. By tying compliance to vehicle registration, the bill creates a meaningful incentive for offenders to resolve outstanding citations and disincentivizes the behavior.
Illegal dumping in California has been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, placing growing strain on local communities. Between 2021 and 2024, Oakland issued nearly 3,000 illegal dumping citations totaling about $1.3 million in fines. However, the city has collected only about $109,000 which is roughly 11% of total fines issued. Last year, Oakland received over 25,000 calls reporting illegal dumping. As a result, Oakland crews removed 15 million pounds of trash. When the city routinely cleans up these hotspot areas, it sends a signal to perpetrators that their actions do not have consequences and that their dumping will be addressed by the city.
“Our neighborhoods deserve better than to be treated as dumping grounds - and for too long, serial illegal dumpers have faced little to no real deterrence, getting cited, walking away, and leaving our communities to absorb the damage. This bill changes that,” said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. “By tying outstanding fines to vehicle registration, we are creating a consequence that is clear, enforceable, and impossible to ignore. That is the kind of accountability our residents deserve - and frankly, it is long overdue.”
California has been increasing efforts to address illegal dumping in recent years with the launch of Clean California. Between the launch of the program in July 2021 and August 2025, 3.4 million cubic yards of litter and debris were removed from highways and public spaces, enough to fill up over 136,000 garbage trucks. The scale of the problem statewide underscores the urgency to enact stronger enforcement mechanisms.
Supporters argue that the bill not only protects neighborhoods and the environment, but also promotes fairness. Law-abiding residents should not shoulder the financial burden created by those who illegally dispose of waste. By strengthening enforcement and improving fine collection, SB 1218 aims to deter future violations while helping cities recover costs associated with cleanup and code enforcement.